Dartmoor HIll Pony Website

[dptc]

Huge thank you to Lyn for making this happen, you may remember a post abut 700 hill ponies being culled. As a result of a post on here Lyn's company has donated a website to enable us to reach a wider audience for information, and selling nationwide. The website is still a work in progress, the sales section needs to be sorted as does the banking part of it but for any one who is interested in the Dartmoor Hill Pony you may be interested in reading it.

Many IH trainers have been kind enough to agree to their details being added to the training section including offering discounts to those purchsing a hill pony through the site which may well help improve welfare for a pony considerably for people who are not sure initially when they purchase a feral pony


sites.uk-plc.net/dartmoor-hill-pony/index.htm

[taklishim]

haven't read all the site yet but it looks good.
Upping this so it doesn't get lost before people have a chance to see it.

[mrsmills]

As the OP who put up the post about the cull, I am so thrilled to hear about this. Increased public awareness is definitely the way forward, and its so great that such support is available to new owners.

Thank goodness there are people like yourself who are prepared to do all they can to help the dartmoor hill pony. You are fantastic! I know what a hard battle it can be to change the practices of hundreds of years! Please, please keep fighting!

Very very best wishes.

[Zoe RA]

Upping again

[andyt]

and upping again! We have 2 rescue Dartmoors and they are fantastic!! ;D

[lynd]

We were delighted to help with a website as this situation really needs a solution and I hope that we can be a small part of that. I am from Shetland and until 20 years ago our ponies were routinely shipped to Spain for slaughter. The crofters were much like the Dartmoor farmers in that their responsibility stopped at the mart when the ponies were sold. Understanding where each years foals were going to and having an option to increase the value of the ponies bred, changed the dynamics. This coupled with minimum value transportation legislation meant that only a smaller number of good value ponies are now brought to market each year.

This experience led me to buy several horses and ponies destined for the continental meat market a couple of years ago and much to my surprise they have been fantastic and a great learning experience. I had no expectations of what I had bought - with the help of Zoe ( RA) we have turned them into exemplary teengers and are preparing to back Toffee and Tess in the next year or so. I don't regard them as rescues - simply wild and unhandled ponies that had no future other than a continental slaughterhouse. We are all sure that Tess is actually a NF cross and the transporter has confirmed that the farm she was collected from had NF mares.

So.....can we help our horses and ponies at home and rescue them before they go on a very expensive round trip via continental europe? The web site is meant to act as a focal point for buying ponies and getting help to train them - hopefully it will play it's part in increasing their value and showcasing their talents.

It's easy to dismiss these ponies as all having poor confirmation and clearly some have issues. However not all ...have a look at our slaughter ponies; Victor and Valmy are on Zoe's RA area and both are in the national stud book of france with full passports (their only crime was being born colts!).

Victor Valmy Tess and Toffee


Tess



Toffee


Toffee and Tess are above... and very naughty!!! Toffee is the fjord and Tess dark bay.

[mrsmills]

I just wanted to add what fantastic ponies these dartmoors are. We bought two fillies several years ago through the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, so they were both "heritage approved", and as such had good conformation etc. They were headcollar trained, would lead nicely, and pick up feet etc, so their value was greater, and the farmer made a reasonable profit.

They have been given plenty of time, with gentle but consistent handling, and have now become the most fantastic little people-friendly ponies you could hope to meet. Completely trustworthy, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them as a ridden child's pony (or for those smaller adults amongst us). They cost next to nothing to keep as they are moor-hardy, and have the most fantastic hard little feet.

If anyone is considering a new pony, please have a look at this website, and give the dartmoor hill pony some serious thought.

Once the farmers realise that there is a way to increase the value of quality stock, and it does not make cost-effective sense to breed indiscriminately for the meat-man, hopefully things will begin to change.

[mrsmills]

OOOOh, juts learnt how to post photos!

My gang of gorgeous dartmoors.



Polly




Pip



And Polly's BOGOF son, Puzzle.


I defy anyone not to fall in love!

[SarahW]

Gorgeous creatures.

[lynd]

they look fantastic - beautiful ponies.....not sure that I allowed to have any more ( Zoe ) but would love to have some Dartmoors to complete the herd!